NCT failure: suspension imbalance

Hey.

So my 2002 Corolla, failed on a suspension imbalance. It was over 50% so a fair bit above the limit.

I checked the garage near my workplace and he quoted E300, which seems a push for a 15 year old car that may not last more than a year.
He briefly mentioned I could get second hand parts but he was talking to someone else so it was as brief as I've described.

I'd like to try get it done for closer to E200 so I'm thinking the best way might be to buy the parts myself and just pay for someone to change it.

So what exactly do I need?.

I see on Micks Garage there's a lot under that umbrella, shock absorbers, coil springs etc... the prices make it seem like €300 is cheap if you're talking about needing multiple parts which are €40+ and labour on top.

I'm just looking to get this done for a reasonable price as the car is only a run around.

dmc17

gilberto_eire wrote: »

Hey.

So my 2002 Corolla, failed on a suspension imbalance. It was over 50% so a fair bit above the limit.

I checked the garage near my workplace and he quoted E300, which seems a push for a 15 year old car that may not last more than a year.
He briefly mentioned I could get second hand parts but he was talking to someone else so it was as brief as I've described.

I'd like to try get it done for closer to E200 so I'm thinking the best way might be to buy the parts myself and just pay for someone to change it.

So what exactly do I need?.

I see on Micks Garage there's a lot under that umbrella, shock absorbers, coil springs etc... the prices make it seem like €300 is cheap if you're talking about needing multiple parts which are €40+ and labour on top.

I'm just looking to get this done for a reasonable price as the car is only a run around.

What does the NCT report say you need? Hard to say without seeing it.

Front: Nearside 60Mm, Offside 29Mm, Imbalance 52%.

Rears were both 59/59 with 0% Imbalance.

colm_mcm

To go cheap properly, get a working shock from a scrapper and hope for the best. I can't remember which side is gone from the read outs.

The correct thing to do is to get two new shocks of course, but people often stick a shock/spring from a scrapper in.

martyc5674

Your near side is the guilty party, that's the height in mm it rebounds past its settle point after it hits a predefined bump(or something along those lines)
you want that number as low as possible.
Marty.

colm_mcm

The Mm is Maha meters, which is a measurement invented by Maha for use in their testing equipment.
Nearside front is often the one that takes the most abuse from bumps.

JohnBoy26

Two new front shock absorbers is what you need. A second hand shock might do but there is no gaurantee and might end up costing you more in the long run.

JohnBoy26

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Two new front shock absorbers is what you need. A second hand shock might do but there is no gaurantee and might end up costing you more in the long run.

So I don't need springs or anything else?.

I'm happy enough to buy two of them.

https://www.micksgarage.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=5118195&carid=16373
Theres ones on MG for e41, I get these wouldn't be preferred for a nice ride but it's a 15 year old run around so I'm not fussed with expensive parts.

If I get two absorbers, what price should I be looking to accept to put them in... e100?.

Agricola

You don't need springs unless one or more of them are broken.

The big imbalance is due to the nearside front shock absorber being wornout.

I got around this before by fitting 2 good second hand shocks, I didn't want to risk fitting one as didn't know if it would still be imbalanced. Didnt have to pay labour charges as I did it myself. If you're going to be giving it to a garage, you might be better off just buying new.

JohnBoy26

gilberto_eire wrote: »

So I don't need springs or anything else?.

I'm happy enough to buy two of them.

https://www.micksgarage.com/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=5118195&carid=16373n

Theres ones on MG for e41, I get these wouldn't be preferred for a nice ride but it's a 15 year old run around so I'm not fussed with expensive parts.

If I get two absorbers, what price should I be looking to accept to put them in... e100?.

As has been said by another poster if the springs aren't broken its highly unlikely to be them. Front shock absorbers going is a common enough thing on those corollas so it's more than likely that one of them has failed.

As shock absorbers do go in the front of these cars regularly enough I think going new is the best option. I cant tell you about the €41 shock absorbers because I cant get access the link you posted however if you are looking for brand names monroe or kyb are good in my experience.

As for the cost of fitting that depends on the garage.

my3cents

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that the NCT doesn't pass or fail on the efficiency of the shocks but only the imbalance so if the OP had a two knackered shocks in the front instead of just one he'd have passed.

colm_mcm

Maybe the OP should drive the offside through some bad potholes so they match


I wouldn't bother with €40 shocks, they'll be fecked in no time.

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

Maybe the OP should drive the offside through some bad potholes so they match


I wouldn't bother with €40 shocks, they'll be fecked in no time.

That's a fair point.

But its a 15 year old car I'm only looking to get about another year out of so just getting shocks that pass the NCT is all I need.

Anyway I've stumped up with the cheap ones on Micksgarage so I just need to get them fitted somewhere now.

What's a fair price for that?.

colm_mcm

If you could get it done for €100 you'd be doing well.

grogi

colm_mcm wrote: »

Maybe the OP should drive the offside through some bad potholes so they match


I wouldn't bother with €40 shocks, they'll be fecked in no time.

Absolutely. I didn't want to be the stop the party, but Japanparts is not known for quality parts. They will pack anything they can get at the lowest price.

I would try to source kyb, don't have best experience with Monroe either...

grogi

gilberto_eire wrote: »

That's a fair point.

But its a 15 year old car I'm only looking to get about another year out of so just getting shocks that pass the NCT is all I need.

Shocks are equally important in keeping the wheels on the ground as are the tyres. I could ignore many things, but it is tyres, brakes and shocks I don't compromise on. Regardless of the value or age of the car.

boardsuser1

Happened me in my Mondeo a few years ago, got an outrageous reading on the rear suspension.

I thought the car was fcuked.

Changed the 2 rear shock and she passed.

I sold it the following week to a dealer :pac:

grogi

my3cents wrote: »

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that the NCT doesn't pass or fail on the efficiency of the shocks but only the imbalance so if the OP had a two knackered shocks in the front instead of just one he'd have passed.

Nct detected that the suspension is fecked. It would be much smarter to use that information to fix the car for additional €100 and be safe than butch a job just to pass.

my3cents

grogi wrote: »

Nct detected that the suspension is fecked. It would be much smarter to use that information to fix the car for additional €100 and be safe than butch a job just to pass.

And why not miss the point :rolleyes:

enumbers

around 90-110 would be about standard fitting on them here no issues fitting customer supplied parts once they agree before hand that they will pay for us to supply parts or to re assemble with old parts if they supply incorrect parts to prevent lifts been blocked up.

Just to update on this.

I got the shocks for e85.

Got a number for a mechanic from a relation.

He fitted them for e80 and saw the NCT sheet which also had the rear middle brake light so changed that for e3.
So both done for e85.

Retest on Sunday now.

Thanks for all the replies.

biko

Thanks for updating. Let us know after the test too

biko

biko wrote: »

Thanks for updating. Let us know after the test too

Forgot about this.

Passed with an Imbalance of about 10%.

So all sorted for e160ish... nearly half what the first garage was charging me.
You wouldn't mind putting good parts in but its a 15 year old car.
Be lucky to get another year or two out of it if I even wanted to keep it that long.

Thanks for the help.